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A GUIDE TO RACE PROGRAMMING 2017/18 SEASON 1

The Point-to-Point Authority

Race Programming Committee

A GUIDE TO RACE PROGRAMMING

2017-18


THE RACE PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE

Committee Member

David Minton (Chairman) Independent

Richard Russell BHA

Alan Hill MFHA

Jake Exelby Public Relations Officer

Nick Bostock PPSA

Tik Saunders PPORA

Philip Hall The Jockey Club

Fiona Needham Independent

The Race Programming Committee was set up in 2014 to make recommendations to the PPA Board in respect of race

programming and framing at Point-to-Points and to provide a forum for debate on all aspects of the fixture list. The

Committee collects feedback, and monitors all relevant statistics, to be able to recommend policy based on the

following aims:

Provide a well-structured model for fixtures that will increase the numbers of participants and race-goers and

thereby underpin the future of the sport

Improve the average number of runners per race

Create a race programme that reflects the quality and quantity of the available horse population

Analyse data to highlight the imbalance in the race program in order to create a revised programme that offers

appropriate balance of opportunities for horses of different ability

Improve competitive nature of races (address small fields/short-priced favourites)

Horse Welfare – prevent large weights being carried by multiple winners

Attract horses that are capable of sustaining a career in the sport by increasing opportunities

Identify horses yet to run under Rules that could develop from Point-to-Points and vice versa

Encourage natural progression of the horses’ mental and physical abilities (it is beneficial for horses of similar

experience to compete against each other)

Guidance on cross-referencing between areas in order to produce an evenly spread program

When a Point-to-Point Committee is planning its Race Schedule it is advisable to program a range of races that cater

to a wide variety of differing abilities of Horses and Riders. This document provides Point-to-Point Race Programming

Committee recommendations and guidance to a PPA-suggested framework where races are categorised into three

bands whilst highlighting the most popular conditions races.


A GUIDE TO RACE PROGRAMMING – Number of Races

A race programme can consist of not more than seven programmed races but on Bank Holiday weekends

and weekends where ten or more meetings are scheduled within the sport, the PPA Race Programming

Committee recommends the number of races is limited to six races unless the seventh is a Hunt Members

Race.

No more than two Steeple Chases on any card can be run over 2m4f. If two such races are to be

programmed, then one of them must be a Young Horse or age-qualified Young Horse Maiden Race.

It is recommended the programme includes at least two races highlighted in italics within this document.


A GUIDE TO RACE PROGRAMMING – BAND 1

Open Races

Open races are for horses at the top end of the sport and only one of this type of race can be programmed

unless riders’ sex conditions are imposed; this means a race for each sex may be staged.

They can be run over the standard 3-mile distance, 2m4f or extended distances up to 4 miles (with BHA

Inspectorate approval).

Men’s Open – (12st or 12st5lb). Mandatory penalties apply for 12st base weight.

Ladies Open – (11st). Mandatory penalties apply from February 1st of the current season. Prior to

this, penalties can be imposed at the discretion of the committee)

Mixed Open – (11st7lbs). A mandatory cumulative penalty structure is imposed.

The BHA modifies Regulation 75 in the conditions of all Area Classic and Feature races with the omission of

penalties.

Riders who have not ridden more than 5 winners prior to the Thursday before the meeting are allowed a 5lb

Allowance in all Open Races. The BHA modifies Regulation 75 for the exception of Classic Races.



Novice or Progressive Races

These races can be run over the standard 3-mile distance or alternatively at 2m 4f and are for horses at the

start of their careers.

Point-to-Point Flat Race – New for 2017/18 -

Special dispensation to be gained from BHA, with

suitability of the course to be determined by BHA

Course Inspectorate. Conditions as follows:

To be run over 2 miles

For 4, 5 & 6yo’s Only

For horses which have not run under any

recognised Rules of Racing or in Point-to-

Points except Point-to-Point Flat Races.

Horses only allowed to win ONE P2P Flat Race

Horses must have a current registered

Hunters Certificate issued in Great Britain

WEIGHTS: P2P WFA Scale.

RESTRICTION: Horses can run in a maximum of three races of this type.

The Regulations allow for three Maiden Races to be programmed, provided they

have differing conditions.

Young Horse Maiden Race – in line with Regulation 80 (ii), restricted to just

4, 5 and 6-year-old horses

Open Maiden Race – for horses of any age

Older Horse Maiden Race – For horses aged 7 and over (12st 5lb Weight

Range)

Mares Maiden Race – Mares or Fillies of any age (can be set at any weight

between 11st 7lb and 12st 5lb)

Non-Rules Maiden Race – restricted to horses that have never run under the

Rules of any recognised Racing Authority (12st or 12st 5lb weight range

(recommended))

Restricted Race – For horses that have not won any race other than a Maiden

Race, Hunt Race or a Flat or National Hunt Flat Race.

Intermediate Race – For Horses that have not won any Open Race or

Intermediate Point-to-Point Race or a Steeplechase or Hurdle Race Under Rules.

A 4lbs Penalty to be imposed for each Conditions or Confined Race won.

Maximum Penalty to be carried 12lbs.



Band 3 - All Other Races

All other Races are termed Conditions Races as they will all have some form of Conditions attached to

them, to create a level playing field for a range of horses.

The Regulations allow for up to four of this type of race to be programmed (not including those in italics

(see number of races above)).

Club Conditions Race (1) – Where a genuine subscription is paid for Membership of a genuine

recognised Club such as the PPORA* (conditions of the race to include Owners’ paid up

Membership) and the Countryside Alliance.

*Note: PPORA Club Membership can be added to all types of races which remain the same as the title of the race e.g. A PPORA Restricted race is a Restricted race. All meetings are encouraged to stage some form of PPORA race to support the Association that represents the Owners & Riders of the ‘Sport’.

Club Conditions Race (2) – Where Owners pay an increased Entry Fee in Races that are put on as

part of a Club Meeting. (Conditions to be set by the organising Club)

Conditions Race – Where the committee can frame a race with their own Conditions to suit a

certain type of horse with penalties to encourage competitive fields. E.g. for horses that have not

won specified types of races in the current or past two seasons

Area Conditions Race – Where horses are Qualified with packs affiliated to one or more Pointing Areas (same set penalty structure as Confined Races or varied Conditions)

Veterans Conditions Race – For Horses Aged 9 years old and upwards from the start of the season up to and including December 31st; 10 years old and upwards from January 1st until season end. Run with penalties over the current and past season

Mares Conditions Race – For Fillies & Mares only with penalties to create a level playing field (available base weight range between 11st7lb and 12st5lb)

Novice Riders Conditions Race – For Riders who have not ridden more than 5 winners before the start of the current season (Penalties for winners in the current and past season)

Veteran Riders Conditions Race – For Riders who have attained a specified birthday (40 or 45) by the start of the current Season


A GUIDE TO RACE PROGRAMMING – BAND 3 (continued)

Confined Race – for horses certified by a Master of a Hunt affiliated to a Point-to-Point Area (or by a

person appointed by the Master to sign Hunters Certificates) to be the property of Masters,

Members, Subscribers or Farmers of that Hunt authorised to stage the meeting and fifteen adjoining

Hunts; if insufficient hunts adjoin, the nearest neighbouring Hunts must be included. Where

Confined conditions are added to Maiden or Restricted races, such races remain, by definition,

Maiden or Restricted races. Where Hunts stage a Mixed Open race, they may hold two Confined

races (i.e. one for Men and one for Ladies).

Hunt Members Race - restricted to horses with a Hunters Certificate registered with Weatherbys or

issued by the organising Hunt (and if so desired up to three additional Hunts). Within the conditions,

the organising Committee may include the requirement for the Horse to have been genuinely hunted

with the Pack(s) concerned. The PPA recommends, where the Hunt Race is likely to produce fewer

than six runners it should be placed as the last race of the day.


SUGGESTED PENALTIES FOR CONDITIONS RACES

Please find below some examples of common penalties used. The dates stated are suggested for the

2017/18 season but can be amended as required depending on the desires of the individual fixtures. It is

not mandatory to impose penalties in Conditions races.

Cumulative penalties to a maximum weight:

For each win on or since 1st July 2016 in any race under the Rules of any recognised Racing Authority (Point-to-Points excepted) or in a Mens, Ladies or Mixed Open Point-to-Point race 4lb extra; for each win on or since 1st July 2016 in a Club Members, Confined or Conditions race to carry 3lb extra; maximum weight to be carried is 12st10lb.

Penalties are cumulative

For races where horses cannot have won under Rules (either ever, or after a certain date) or a Men’s, Ladies or Mixed Open P2P:

Non-cumulative A winner on or since 1st July 2016 of two or more Club Members, Conditions or Confined races to carry 7lb extra; of one such race 4lb extra.

Penalties are not cumulative

Cumulative For each win on or since 1st July 2016 in a Confined, Club Members or Conditions race 3lb extra.


For races where horses cannot have won under Rules (either ever, or after a certain date):

Cumulative For each win on or since 1st July 2016 in a Mens, Ladies or Mixed Open Point-to-Point 5lb extra; for each win in a Confined, Club Members or Conditions race to carry 3lb extra.


Non-cumulative A winner on or since 1st July 2016 of a Mens, Ladies or Mixed Open Point-to-Point race to carry 7lb extra; a winner of a Confined, Club Members or Conditions race in this period to carry 4lb extra.



SUGGESTED PENALTIES FOR CONDITIONS RACES

For races where horses can have won under Rules and in Point-to-Points

Non-cumulative A winner on or since 1st July 2016 of any race under the Rules of any recognised Racing Authority (Point-to-Points excepted) to carry 7lb extra, of a Mens, Ladies or Mixed Open Point-to-Point race to carry 4lb extra, of two or more races to carry 7lb extra.



USEFUL STATISTICS – 2015/16 SEASON

Band 1

Average number of Entries

Average number of runners per race

Mixed Opens 18 7

Men’s Opens 14 6

Ladies Opens 15 6

Band 2

Races Scheduled



2 ½ Mile Young Horse Maidens

77 15.6 9.60

Mares Maidens 18 17.2 9.12

Hunt Members 37 7.68 4.2

Band 3

Race Scheduled



2 ½ Mile Point-to-Point Races, other than Young Horse Maidens

49 18.7 9.47

Novice Riders Races 82 17.2 8.59

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